Eastern Jackson County residents now have a new option when deciding where to go see a movie.

The Grain Valley Marketplace 8, part of the B&B Theatre chain, celebrates its grand opening today. The theater, 1131 N.E. McQuerry Road just north of Interstate 70, has eight screens that includes a Grand Screen.

The first 100 people in the door Wednesday night will receive a free prize pack as well as a free 46-ounce popcorn. In recognition of the theater opening, those who purchase a movie ticket through Saturday will also receive a free small popcorn.

“When we look for a community to open a theater, we look for an underserved market that really doesn’t have another theater like Grain Valley,” said Brock Bagby, with B&B Theatres. “Grain Valley is two minutes from Adams Dairy Parkway (in Blue Springs) and just down the road from Oak Grove and Odessa. This area has really blown up in the last 10 years, so it was a good location for us.”

B&B Theatres stands for Bills and Bagby, two movie theater families who joined forces in 1980. The theater chain now has 32 theaters in five states and is the 21st largest theater chain in the United States.

One of the amenities in the new Grain Valley theater is the Grand Screen. Similar to an IMAX, the Grand Screen theater includes a massive wall-to-wall screen, extra large stadium seating with leather high back rocker seats, 3D Digital Projection and 360-degree surround sound. In addition to the Grand Screen, all of the theaters at the Marketplace 8 have leather seating and surround sound.

“All of our theaters have digital projection and 7.1 surround sound that offers a 360 surround sound experience that many other theaters do not have,” Bagby said. “All of our screens are also high frame rate certified (used in “The Hobbit”), so we can show any movies that are capable of that kind of technology.”

Unlike most theaters, the concessions and movie tickets are purchased at the same counter, which Bobbie Bagby, marketing director for B&B Theatres, said has shown to reduce wait time. B&B Theatres also does something a little different with their popcorn.

“Our popcorn is grown in the Midwest and our seats are American made, so we try to keep things as local as possible,” she said. “Even if you do not see the popcorn popping, we guarantee that it has probably been popped within the last hour. I really think that makes our flavor better, and offers a better product to the customer. It is my favorite feature of our theaters.”

Among the theater chains’ special events is a monthly Retro Night. These movies are shown in at least one theater for $5 a person. This month, “White Christmas” will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday. In January, “E.T.” will be shown during Retro Movie Night. The theater is also capable of hosting corporate and private events such as business meetings and even birthday parties.

Page 2 of 2 - “We try to offer as many special events as possible, and Retro Night is something cool that celebrates our history.“ Bobbie Bagby said. “We like to pay homage to our history, so we try to show a variety of different movies. It is also an inexpensive night out for families.”